Dolphin Biology Research Institute (dba Sarasota Dolphin Research Program)

Transcription

1 Dolphin Biology Research Institute (dba Sarasota Dolphin Research Program) SUMMARY Mission Building on the foundation of the world s longest-running study of a wild dolphin population, the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program improves the lives of dolphins through: Research on dolphins in the wild to better understand how they live, how they interact with their environment, and how they are affected by human activities. Translating scientific research into conservation action.sharing what we have learned, via public education and outreach, scientific publications and presentations, and training researchers and future conservation leaders around the world. Contact Information Primary Address 708 Tropical Circle Sarasota, FL Alternate Address 708 Tropical Circle Sarasota FL Phone Alternate Phone info@sarasotadolphin.org Website Facebook SarasotaDolphins?ref=ts&fref=ts Twitter dolphinsarasota General Information nprofit Dolphin Biology Research Institute (dba Sarasota Dolphin Research Program) 1

2 Organization Does Business As (DBA) Dolphin Biology Research Institute Sarasota Dolphin Research Program DBRI Dolphin Biology Research Associates, Inc. SDRP Former Names Dolphin Biology Research Associates, Inc. Supported Organization Tax Exempt Status Dolphin Biology Research Institute Public Supported Charity Incorporation Year 1982 State Charitable Solicitations Permit Apr 2019 State Registration Jan

3 BACKGROUND & NEEDS Impact Statement Major recent accomplishments: We continued to apply Sarasota Bay as a reference site for comparative studies to assess impacts of human activities to at-risk dolphin populations (e.g., Deepwater Horizon). We compiled baseline data on dolphins and fish to be used for evaluations of the impacts of the severe 2018 red tide.we participated in an unprecedented international collaboration to try to save Mexico s vaquita porpoise from extinction due to drowning in illegal fishing nets. Efforts to capture some of the few remaining vaquita, directed by the SDRP, to put them in a sanctuary, were successful. However, the porpoises did not respond well to the overall process, and the project was discontinued.in 2017 we provided training opportunities to 8 grad students and 12 interns from around the world. We shared our scientific findings and conservation messages through 23 peer-reviewed publications (10 more in press), 36 scientific presentations, and 29 invited lectures. Goals for : Continue our long-term study of the behavior, health, and ecology of the resident dolphins of Sarasota Bay, and the natural (e.g., red tide) and human activities that impact them, and to refine our ability to use dolphins as sentinels of coastal ecosystem health.disseminate our findings to the public, scientists, and wildlife management agencies through peer-reviewed publications, popular articles, main-stream media, social media, conferences, and lectures. Inform policy-making and facilitate conservation action through management-related research, and serving on government panels and in professional societies. Provide training opportunities for students and scientists from around the world, through our natural laboratory in Sarasota Bay.Rescue dolphins suffering from human interactions such as entanglements, and perform follow-up monitoring. Needs Statement Our primary research tool is photography, to document the identities of dolphins from the nicks and notches in their dorsal fins. We need to replace three aging camera systems, at $2,000 each.we need to replace an aging outboard engine on one of our small research vessels. Replacement, with trade-in, will cost about $8,000.We would like to obtain 10 satellite-linked tags for tracking the movements of Sarasota Bay dolphins to see if/how they might have shifted as a result of the severe 2018 red tide. Each locationonly tag costs $1,800.We would like to obtain support for a graduate student to study dolphin health or ecology. One year of part-time stipend and fees for a grad student through the University of Florida costs about $40,000.Continuing our work with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution engineers and veterinarian, we want to refine and test a tool we have developed for attaching satellite-linked tags to bow-riding dolphins, eliminating the need to catch them. This will cost about $50,000 for development and testing, and it will revolutionize dolphin and small whale research capabilities. Background Statement The Sarasota Dolphin Research Program (SDRP), the world s longest-running study of a wild dolphin population, is a collaborative program of partners dedicated to the continuity of long-term dolphin research in Sarasota Bay. The program began with a pilot dolphin tagging study through Mote Marine Laboratory during , and since 1992 Mote has provided a convenient base on City Island in Sarasota Bay, with office, storage and dock space, and access to boat launching ramps. Dolphin Biology Research Institute, a Sarasotabased 501{c}3 non-profit corporation established in 1982, provides logistical support with six small research vessels, two towing vehicles, computers, cameras, field equipment, etc. Most of the SDRP day-to-day operations, including employment of program staff, have been administered by the Chicago Zoological Society since The SDRP maintains academic connections through the U. of Florida, U. of rth Carolina at Wilmington, Duke U., and U. of California at Santa Cruz. Our desire with each research or conservation project is to contribute to a better understanding of the structure and dynamics of populations of cetaceans, as well as the natural and human factors that impact them. We use an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach in conducting studies of bottlenose dolphins within a unique long-term natural laboratory. The primary goals of our program include: collecting biological, behavioral, ecological, and health data of importance to the conservation of small cetaceans, especially bottlenose dolphins,providing requisite information for bottlenose dolphin conservation to wildlife management agencies,disseminating the information generated by our program to 3

4 scientific and general audiences in order to aid dolphin conservation efforts,using our model program to develop and refine hypotheses regarding bottlenose dolphins in other parts of the species' range as well as other species of small cetaceans,using the established natural laboratory to develop and test new research tools and methodologies of potential benefit to conservation efforts,training cetacean conservation workers and students from around the world in the use of these techniques,applying our unique expertise to dolphin rescue operations and post-release follow-up monitoring, andapplying the information we gather from free-ranging dolphins to improve the quality of care for dolphins in zoological park settings. Statement from the Board Chair We started in 1970 with a question: where do local dolphins live? Are they local, or maybe they wander constantly? It was a naïve biologist and his high school intern trying to find out. That first question was answered relatively quickly. Some dolphins live in Sarasota Bay year-round. But other questions arose about wild dolphin biology and threats that require conservation strategies to protect them. We kept pecking at the problems on our own time or with small grants until By then it was obvious that we could be at this for a long time, and that we needed a more formalized arrangement if we were to continue. So, we formed the Dolphin Biology Research Institute, a 501{c}3 non-profit corporation, which is also called the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program (SDRP). The biologist, Blair Irvine, PhD, is President, and while he changed careers, he continues to participate as a volunteer. The former high school intern, Randy Wells, PhD, is Treasurer. He has been Program Director since 1977, and he is now an internationally respected marine mammal scientist. Since 1974 we ve also worked with colleague and Secretary Michael Scott, PhD, who also is a marine mammal expert. When we started, we had no idea we would have such far-reaching and long-lasting effects. The SDRP is a great and rare example of the value of long-term study, which can be hard to appreciate until the decades of unparalleled information are coalesced and are recognized by others around the world as being useful or even crucial. For instance, long-term health data from Sarasota Bay dolphins have been a crucial comparative normal benchmark for evaluating effects on dolphins impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and for trying to determine causes for dolphin deaths elsewhere. The SDRP is now recognized around the world for the breadth and quality of its research and training programs. The SDRP is unique because it is the coordinating entity of a much larger collaborative approach by dolphin researchers and institutions. Sarasota dolphin health assessment data are typically shared by as many as 30 collaborators. While the SDRP provides boats and equipment, ongoing funding for staff and research expenses must be obtained from grants, contracts, and donations. Since 1989 the Chicago Zoological Society has operated the program, and we are based at Mote Marine Laboratory. Funding is always a challenge. We do not have an endowment or fund-raising apparatus. So overhead costs are low, and most of donated funds are applied directly to the research. We continue to rely on the generosity of donors, however, to make the difference for getting our work done. So, having changed careers and moved to Oregon, why am I still involved? It s because in my heart of hearts, I ll always be a wild dolphin biologist, and I believe in the collaborative science model built by the SDRP. I come back each year to work with other volunteers, some of whom I ve worked with for more than 30 years, and I see some dolphins I ve known since the 70s. We are a unique organization, and we are having a very positive impact on the conservation of wild dolphins. I m proud of what we ve accomplished do far. I feel blessed with the opportunity, and I invite you to join our cause by donating. Statement from the CEO/Executive Director The Sarasota Dolphin Research Program builds on the world s longest-running study of a wild dolphin population. Over the past 47 years this program has become much more than a long-term research initiative. We provide unique education and training opportunities to students and colleagues from around the world. We also provide guidance and assistance to help establish dolphin conservation research programs in other countries. Our dedicated staff members make themselves available around the clock to rescue dolphins that have suffered from human interactions such as entanglement in fishing gear, or in the notable case of Scrappy, a misplaced Speedo bathing suit. The partner organizations who combine efforts to operate the SDRP (Dolphin Biology Research Institute, Chicago Zoological Society, Mote Marine Laboratory), along with colleagues from around the world, remain involved because of the long-term natural laboratory situation in Sarasota Bay, and because of the scientific reputation of the program, built on decades of high quality research and unparalleled long-term datasets. These datasets, developed through continuous collection of data over 4

5 many years, are being recognized internationally for their unique relevance to emerging environmental issues such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and climate disruption, where long time series of high-resolution, consistently-collected data are necessary for detecting trends and effects. The SDRP s reputation results from more than its scientific papers and datasets. The heart and soul of the program are the people that work with the SDRP the dedicated staff and students, long-term partnerships, and collaborators from around the world that produce the science, training opportunities, and conservation action. To maintain the consistency and continuity of program efforts, there must be a level of financial stability. The program requires a significant ongoing commitment of support. The program relies primarily on research grants and contracts, and philanthropy, to survive. The Chicago Zoological Society has been key to SDRP s success since 1989, by employing the program staff, administering the business aspects of the program, and providing support for some of its ongoing operations. However, the expectation of CZS is that the SDRP obtain as much of its support as possible from external sources. Areas Served FL FL- Sarasota FL- Manatee FL- Charlotte FL- Hillsborough International National FL- Lee Most of our field research is focused in Sarasota Bay and neighboring waters, extending as far north as Tampa Bay, and as far south as Marco Island, but we also engage in projects outside Florida and the U.S. We are invited to participate in research, training, or consultations around the world. Recently, we have also conducted field work or consultations in Brazil, Argentina, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, Bulgaria, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Service Categories Primary Organization Type Secondary Organization Type Tertiary Organization Type Animal Related Animal Related Environment 5

6 PROGRAMS Monitoring wild dolphins and human activities that impact them Description Monitoring dolphins and human activities that impact them The resident community of bottlenose dolphins in Sarasota Bay is arguably the bestknown dolphin population in the world. It has been studied since The community currently includes about 165 individuals, most of them readily identifiable as individuals, spanning up to five generations, and including dolphins as old as 65 years of age. Observing these animals through time gives details of their lives not previously available for dolphins, and provides opportunities to closely monitor survival, reproductive success, and exposure and responses to human activities. Every month, 10 days of photographic identification surveys are conducted from small boats through the range of the resident dolphins to check up on them, and document their ranges, activities, and social patterns. This is the most basic component of our overall research program, and serves all other components. Budget $325, Category Program Linked to Organizational Strategy Population Served Short Term Success Long Term Success Animal-Related, General/Other Marine Animals Preservation & Protection General/Unspecified US& International Our regular, long-term monitoring provides a surveillance program that allows us to detect changes in the resident dolphin population, and focus research efforts on possible causes for the changes, or work to implement mitigation efforts. Eyes on the water allow us to locate dolphins in trouble, for example from entanglement in fishing line, and implement rescue efforts before the dolphins die or strand. Current knowledge of the status of dolphins in Sarasota Bay, for example, the occurrence of a large number of newborn dolphins prior to a boat race, can lead to the development of media notifications that can increase public awareness and caution. In the short- and long-term, up-to-date information on each of the identifiable resident dolphins supports research that is unique to the Sarasota Bay natural laboratory situation no other wild dolphin population in the world is as thoroughly documented as the Sarasota community. Long-term monitoring of the resident Sarasota dolphin community allows us to keep track of the status of the individuals, the population, and some of the factors that influence their survival and well-being. These surveys, in conjunction with other research efforts, help us to understand the occurrence and relative contributions of natural (for example, sharks, stingrays, disease, red tides) and human-related (pollution, recreational fishing gear entanglement and ingestion, crab traps, boat disturbance and strikes, coastal construction, human feeding of dolphins) threats to wild dolphin survival and condition. Our ultimate goal is to apply this information to reduce human-related threats to dolphins while allowing humans to continue to obtain their livelihood or recreate in the waters they share, and to be able to transfer this knowledge to similar situations in other places. 6

7 Program Success Monitoring Program Success Examples The regular monitoring surveys provide the information for assessment, through documentation of the presence, absence, and condition of the dolphins, and occurrence of human activities of concern. The dolphin surveys have been conducted with consistent effort and methodology for more than 20 years. As a result, baselines are well-established, and deviations that could trigger closer investigation are readily detectable. We have been able to engage in timely efforts to rescue entangled dolphins, providing aid before the dolphins died or stranded. The SDRP is engaged in the world s longest-running study of a wild dolphin population. The level of knowledge we have acquired and maintain for the resident Sarasota Bay dolphins is unparalleled, and attracts scientists and students from around the world for research collaborations or training. Our research has helped NOAA, the federal agency charged with protecting dolphins, to better understand and consider human threats beyond just commercial fisheries, as they develop management plans. We have provided a unique opportunity to understand cumulative impacts of multiple natural and human-induced threats,rather than the more traditional management approach of examining one threat to animal populations at a time. Our efforts have helped NOAA to better apportion precious resources between outreach and law enforcement. By informing media of emerging threats from human activities, impacts have been reduced. Surveys provide opportunities for detection of entangled dolphins, leading to rescue efforts, and post-intervention monitoring (1-3 cases each year in Sarasota Bay alone). 7

8 Dolphin health assessments Description The resident dolphin population of Sarasota Bay serves as a reference population for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for comparisons with other populations potentially impacted by environmental threats such as oil spills, other toxic pollutants, or harmful algal blooms. A team of more than 60 scientists and veterinarians, working under a NOAA permit, briefly captures small groups of dolphins and performs standard medical examinations and sampling onboard a specially-equipped veterinary exam boat to evaluate each animal s health. Then each animal is released. Differences between specific health indicators for dolphins at potentially impacted sites as compared to the range of values established for Sarasota dolphins from long-term monitoring point to health concerns and possible causes. In addition, the health assessments provide opportunities for studies of life history, communication, and tests of new technology, such as radio tag designs. Budget $189, Category Program Linked to Organizational Strategy Population Served Short Term Success Long Term Success Program Success Monitoring Animal-Related, General/Other Wild Animals Preservation & Protection General/Unspecified US& International In the near-term, continuation of our health assessment program will allow us to continue to compile background information on each of the resident dolphins,improving our ability to interpret their health and behavior. Ongoing monitoring is also required to detect emerging health threats, and to refine our baseline data to improve detectability and accuracy. Currently, health assessment data from Sarasota Bay dolphins is being used by NOAA for comparison with heath data from Barataria Bay, Louisiana, a bay that was heavily impacted by Deepwater Horizon oil. Health differences between the bays are being investigated relative to potential oil spill impacts. Our health monitoring program for Sarasota Bay resident dolphins provides us with a surveillance mechanism for emerging threats or conditions, including ones that may impact humans. The long-term resident dolphins of Sarasota Bay,who breathe the same air, swim through the same waters, and eat the same fish as people in coastal Sarasota, serve as sentinels for environmental health threats. Continuing research allows us to refine health assessments to more quickly and accurately detect health or body condition problems, and to focus research to investigate their causes. NOAA recognizes the Sarasota Bay dolphin community as its standard reference site for comparisons with other sites that have been impacted through unusual mortality events, from pollution, harmful algal blooms, or unknown causes. Continuing refinements to the health assessment process will increase its utility and benefit dolphin populations in Sarasota and elsewhere. The program s success will continue to be assessed based on its continuing relevance to NOAA for broader comparisons, the interest level of research collaborators from around the world, and the successful publication and presentation of findings in scientific journals and at conferences. The success will also be assessed by means of continuation of its excellent record of safety for dolphins and people, while providing crucial data of value to research and conservation. 8

9 Program Success Examples Since 1984, we have sampled and examined more than 280 individual dolphins in Sarasota Bay and surrounding waters, some of them up to 16 times each. The wealth of information from these efforts is unparalleled, and draws collaborating researchers and students from around the world. Each dolphin examined during a health assessment session supports more than 30 individual research projects, involving topics such as health, genetics and paternity, pollution effects, life history, diving physiology, tag design, red tide impacts, hearing abilities, and communication. NOAA has modeled its own health assessments on the Sarasota Bay program, and has used Sarasota as a reference population for comparisons with sites impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (Barataria Bay, LA), persistent toxic environmental contaminants (Brunswick, GA), and biotoxins from harmful algal blooms (St. Joseph Bay, FL) to try to determine how dolphin health has been affected at those impacted sites. 9

10 Dolphin rescues and post-release monitoring Description Increasing numbers of dolphins are becoming entangled in fishing line throughout the southeast U.S. Entanglement cases are found during our regular surveys, or we are notified by NOAA Fisheries Service. Unless these animals are rescued and disentangled, the dolphins will likely die from lines and terminal tackle becoming embedded in or cutting deeply into their tissues. The SDRP maintains a largely unfunded capacity for quickly responding to entanglements. SDRP can: 1) deploy a team on a single boat with specialized tools to attempt to remove gear without capture, or 2) deploy an experienced team to capture, disentangle,and release the animal on site, and then monitor it post-release to assess the success of the case. Alternatively, if recommended by attending veterinarians, SDRP can transport the animal to Mote Marine Laboratory's dolphin hospital for more intensive treatment. Budget $50, Category Program Linked to Organizational Strategy Population Served Short Term Success Long Term Success Program Success Monitoring Animal-Related, General/Other Marine Animals Preservation & Protection General/Unspecified US& International Our short-term achievements will involve saving individual dolphins from untimely death, and relieving their suffering resulting from human activities. Ultimately, we hope that the need for rescues will diminish as people become more aware of the damage humans can do to dolphins, especially with recreational fishing gear. We have worked with NOAA and others to develop outreach materials and efforts to increase awareness about the threats posed by fishing gear, boats, and human feeding of wild dolphins. These efforts include distribution of more than 300,000 Dolphin- Friendly Fishing & Viewing Tips cards since 2008, development and distribution of a public service announcement video and associated website(dontfeedwilddolphins.org), participation in numerous media interviews, town hall meetings, classroom visits, and lectures, and peerreviewed publications based on our studies of effects of human interactions (the publications have been used by NOAA as support for developing their current management strategies). Success will be measured by the number of successful rescues we perform relative to the number of known cases that would benefit from intervention, and are within our capacity for response. Program Success Examples During , we have engaged in disentangling more than 10 bottlenose dolphins in Florida and Louisiana. Seven of these have been seen post-release, and they are doing well. 10

11 Ecological research Description Understanding the lives of cetaceans requires understanding them within their ecological context - relative to their prey, predators, and other environmental factors that can impact their survival and well-being, such as red tides, fishing activity, and boat traffic. Changes in prey availability can impact dolphin health, body condition, behavior, and susceptibility to human activities such as fishing. To this end,we monitor the distribution, abundance, and energy content of dolphin prey fish in Sarasota Bay. Seasonally, a standardized purse-seine is used to capture, identify, measure, and release fish through the dolphins home range. In addition to providing crucial perspective for interpreting dolphin behavior, habitat use and body condition, this effort provided the first quantitative assessment of the impacts of a severe red tide on an estuarine fish community, and subsequent recovery. In addition, we are examining scar patterns to understand shark predation risk. Budget $150, Category Program Linked to Organizational Strategy Population Served Short Term Success Long Term Success Program Success Monitoring Animal-Related, General/Other Fishery Conservation & Management General/Unspecified US& International Short-term success involves maintaining the consistency and continuity of the fish database for Sarasota Bay. Holes in the dataset from missed sampling seasons would severely hamper our ability to interpret what is happening with fish and dolphin populations in Sarasota Bay. Collection of additional fish data improves definition of our baselines, and our ability to detect deviations from the baseline condition, which would trigger more detailed investigations. The ability to be able to scientifically model responses of dolphin populations to environmental changes would be very important to providing appropriate management and minimizing impacts from human activities. The ultimate goal of the fish monitoring program is to relate prey availability to potentially predictable changes in dolphin behavior, survival, and condition. Being able to predict how dolphins will respond to environmental changes facilitates management planning. Secondarily, we want to develop a better understanding of the dynamics of the fish community of Sarasota Bay, to learn how the species diversity, numbers, and condition of fish change under different environmental scenarios, with important implications for those who make their livelihood from local fish populations, and for anglers. The current level of fish sampling effort has been established because it meets minimum requirements for statistical comparisons among seasons. With our current system of fish monitoring, we can be confident that we are sampling at an appropriate level to develop an index of fish availability that accurately reflects what is actually happening in the bay. It is essential to maintain this minimum level of sampling, to allow future comparisons and assessments. 11

12 Program Success Examples Since 2004, our fish monitoring program has made more than 1,000 purse-seine sets and caught, measured, and released more than 500,000 fish in Sarasota Bay. Our seasonal fish sampling was the first to quantitatively document changes to estuarine fish communities during a severe red tide, including dramatic declines in many species, and the recovery of fish stocks in the years following the red tide. In the first natural experiment of its kind, changes in fish abundance and condition from a severe red tide appeared to at least partially explain changes in dolphin abundance, condition, survival, and rates of interactions with anglers. Declines in prey fish availability were accompanied by increases in dolphin interactions with anglers, and increased mortality from ingesting fishing gear. Further observations during red tides are necessary before the hypothesized relationship between prey fish availability and dolphin responses can be tested. 12

13 Education, training, and conservation capacity building Description We share our information with the public, scientists, and wildlife management agencies through peer-reviewed publications, popular articles, main-stream media, social media, conferences and lectures. In addition, we provide training opportunities to visiting scientists, graduate students, and undergraduate interns in order to build conservation capacity around the world. We do this because we recognize the importance of effective dissemination of research findings to the places where they can make the most difference, in Florida, the U.S., and around the world. Many of our program s previous trainees have gone on to be today s conservation leaders, and they will leverage additional conservation work around the world. SDRP scientists also participate as members of government advisory panels and in professional societies to inform management and help guide conservation decisions. Budget $125, Category Program Linked to Organizational Strategy Population Served Short Term Success Long Term Success Program Success Monitoring Animal-Related, General/Other Marine Animals Preservation & Protection General/Unspecified US& International In the short-term, we struggle to maintain our education, training, and conservation capacity building efforts. We are able to offer training opportunities to graduate students, up to 25 undergraduate interns, and 3-10 foreign scientists each year, but in many cases, high-quality applicants are ultimately unable to participate because of financial limitations. We would realize greater short-term and long-term success if more financial support were available for these applicants. We have established a high level of scientific productivity (publications and presentations) and hope to maintain this level over time. SDRP scientists will continue to serve on a number of government wildlife management advisory panels and professional society boards. Ultimately, we would like to enhance dolphin conservation capacity worldwide, leveraging conservation work from a network of scientists and students who have been trained through the SDRP, and building on the findings of SDRP research and/or using research tools developed or tested in conjunction with the SDRP. Locally, we would like for our education and outreach programs to have been so successful that there is no longer any need for them for reducing adverse human-dolphin interactions. The numbers of active participants and applicants we have for international traineeships, graduate student research programs, and undergraduate intern positions provide measures of our training and capacity building success. Another measure of our scientists relevancy, although it is outside of our control, is our invited involvement on government wildlife management advisory panels. Our scientific productivity is measured through annual numbers of peer-reviewed publications and presentations. Outreach effectiveness is measured caseby-case, as appropriate. 13

14 Program Success Examples Over the years, 32 doctoral dissertation and 32 master s thesis projects have benefited from association with the SDRP, through field research opportunities or access to data, samples, or guidance. A number of these former students are now employed in influential positions for conservation. Through 2015, we have shared our scientific findings and conservation messages through more than 200 published peer-reviewed journal articles, more than 500 presentations at professional meetings, and invited lectures. SDRP scientists served as President of the international Society for Marine Mammalogy, member of the Committee of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals for the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, Chair of NOAA s Pacific Scientific Review Group, member and past-chair of NOAA s Atlantic Scientific Review Group, Chair of NOAA s Working Group on Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Events, and as members of NOAA s Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Team. Comments Program Comments by Organization Program Success Examples: The SDRP operates the world s longest-running study of a wild dolphin population. The knowledge we have acquired for the Sarasota Bay dolphins is unparalleled, and attracts scientists and students from around the world for research collaborations or training. We provide a unique opportunity to understand cumulative impacts of multiple natural and human-induced threats, rather than the more traditional management approach of examining one threat to animal populations at a time. We have helped NOAA to better apportion resources between outreach and law enforcement. By informing media of emerging threats from human activities, impacts have been reduced. In recent years we have rescued at least one dolphin per year. NOAA has modeled their health assessments on ours, and uses Sarasota as a reference population for comparisons with sites impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, pollutants, and red tides. Our fish monitoring program was the first to quantitatively document changes to estuarine fish communities during a severe red tide, and the recovery of fish stocks in subsequent years. Changes in prey fish abundance and condition from the red tide at least partially explained changes in dolphin abundance, condition, survival, and rates of interactions with anglers. Over the years, more than 70 doctoral dissertation and master s thesis projects have benefited from work with the SDRP. A number of these former students are now employed in influential conservation position. We have shared our scientific findings and conservation messages through >200 peer reviewed publications, and >500 scientific presentations and invited lectures. SDRP staff serve on many national and international panels and boards. SDRP scientists have engaged in conservation research in Brazil, Argentina, Belize, Canada, Colombia, Greece, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Bermuda, and consultations on threatened and endangered dolphin populations around the world. 14

15 MANAGEMENT CEO/Executive Director CEO/Executive Director CEO Term Start Jan 1977 CEO Dr. Randall S. Wells Experience Randall Wells directs the world s longest-running study of a wild dolphin population. He began studying bottlenose dolphins in Sarasota Bay as a high school volunteer at Mote Marine Laboratory in He received a PhD in Biology from the U. of California, Santa Cruz and was awarded a post-doctoral fellowship at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. He has worked for the Chicago Zoological Society since 1989, and has managed Mote Marine Laboratory s Dolphin Research Program since Wells is adjunct Professor of Ocean Sciences at UCSC, and adjunct Professor of Marine Mammal Science at the U. of Florida, where he advises graduate students.wells research examines the behavior, social structure, life history, ecology, health, and population biology of bottlenose dolphins along central west Florida. Research includes the effects of human activities on coastal dolphins, such as boats, fishing, human feeding of wild dolphins, and pollution. Wells has served as a principal investigator for more than 185 funded marine mammal research projects. Wells has studied the behavior of Franciscana and Hawaiian spinner dolphins, blue, gray, and humpback whales, the effects of industrial activities on bowhead whales, the impacts of boats on manatees, and the release of captive and rehabilitated dolphins back into their native waters. Wells has authored or co-authored 4 books, more than 200 peer-reviewed articles, 85 technical reports, and 14 popular pieces. He has been presenter or co-author of more than 500 presentations at professional meetings or invited lectures. Wells is past-president of the Society for Marine Mammalogy. Wells serves as a member of the Committee of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals for the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, on NOAA s Atlantic Scientific Review Group, and he is past-chair of the NOAA s Working Group on Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Events. Wells serves on IUCN s Cetacean and Reintroduction Specialist Groups. Co-CEO/Executive Director Experience Senior Staff Jason Allen Lab Manager Aaron Barleycorn Field Research Coordinator Allison Honaker Research Assistant Kim Bassos Hull Research Associate Dr. Shauna McBride Research Assistant Elizabeth Berens McCabe Research Associate Dr. Katherine McHugh Post-doctoral Scientist 15

16 Christina Toms Research Associate Dr. Reny Tyson Post-doctoral Scientist Dr. Randall S. Wells Director Krystan Wilkinson Graduate Research Assistant Staff & Volunteer Statistics Full Time Staff 7 Part Time Staff 4 Staff Retention Rate % 88 Professional Development Contractors 1 Volunteers 100 Management Reports to Board CEO/Executive Director Formal Evaluation Senior Management Formal Evaluation nmanagement Formal Evaluation N/A Collaborations The Sarasota Dolphin Research Program (SDRP) is a collaborative program of partners dedicated to the continuity of long-term dolphin research and conservation in Sarasota Bay. The program began through Mote Marine Laboratory during , and since 1992 Mote has provided a convenient base on City Island in Sarasota Bay, with office, storage and dock space, and access to boat launching ramps. Dolphin Biology Research Institute, a Sarasota-based 501{c}3 non-profit corporation established in 1982, provides logistical support with five small research vessels, two towing vehicles, computers, cameras, field equipment, etc. Most of the SDRP day-to-day operations, including employment of program staff, have been administered by the Chicago Zoological Society since The SDRP maintains academic connections through the U. of Florida, U. of rth Carolina at Wilmington, Duke U., and U. of California at Santa Cruz. The SDRP works closely with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, the federal agency responsible for protecting dolphins. We are currently engaged in collaborative projects with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Sea Mammal Research Unit of the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, and the National Marine Mammal Foundation. Comments Management Comments by Organization 16

17 GOVERNANCE Board Chair Board Chair Dr. Randall Wells Company Affiliation Dolphin Biology Research Institute Board Term Dec 2017 to Dec 2020 Board Chair Board Members Name Affiliation Status Dr. A. Blair Irvine Dolphin Biology Research Institute Voting Mr. Ralph Piland Salisbury Zoo Voting Dr. Michael D. Scott Dolphin Biology Research Institute Voting Dr. Randall S. Wells Dolphin Biology Research Institute Voting Board Demographics - Ethnicity African American/Black 0 Asian American/Pacific Islander 0 Caucasian 4 Hispanic/Latino 0 Native American/American Indian 0 Other 0 0 Board Demographics - Gender Male 4 Female 0 t Specified 0 Governance Board Term Lengths 99 Board Term Limits 99 Board Orientation Number of Full Board Meetings Annually 2 Board Meeting Attendance % 100 Board Self-Evaluation Written Board Selection Criteria Percentage of Board Making Monetary Contributions 100 Percentage of Board Making In-Kind Contributions

18 Constituency Includes Client Representation Comments Governance Comments by Organization 18

19 FINANCIALS Current Financial Info Tax Year Begins 2018 Tax Year Ends 2018 Projected Revenue $150, Projected Expenses $146, Total Projected Revenue includes "in-kind" contributions/ donations Endowment Value $0.00 Spending Policy Percentage 0 Tax Credits Capital Campaign In a Capital Campaign Campaign Goal 0 IRS Form 990s IRS Form 990 DBRI FY2018 IRS Form 990 DBRI FY2017 IRS Form 990 FY 2016 IRS Form 990 FY 2015 IRS Form IRS Form 990 IRS Form 990 IRS Form 990 IRS Form 990 IRS Form 990 IRS Form 990 Solvency Short Term Solvency Fiscal Year Current Ratio: Current Assets/Current Liabilities Long Term Solvency Fiscal Year Long-Term Liabilities/Total Assets 0% 0% 0% Historical Financial Review Revenue and Expenses 19

20 Fiscal Year Total Revenue $255,703 $266,286 $197,477 Total Expenses $156,504 $160,616 $160,671 Revenue Sources Fiscal Year Foundation and Corporation $0 $0 $0 Contributions Government Contributions $0 $0 $0 Federal $0 $0 $0 State $0 $0 $0 Local $0 $0 $0 Unspecified $0 $0 $0 Individual Contributions $166,758 $174,203 $97,398 Indirect Public Support $0 $0 $0 Earned Revenue $88,411 $92,083 $100,079 Investment Income, Net of Losses $534 $0 $0 Membership Dues $0 $0 $0 Special Events $0 $0 $0 Revenue In-Kind $0 $41,888 $0 Other $0 $0 $0 Expense Allocation Fiscal Year Program Expense $141,259 $145,275 $145,871 Administration Expense $14,707 $15,341 $14,800 Fundraising Expense $538 $0 $0 Payments to Affiliates $0 $0 $0 Total Revenue/Total Expenses Program Expense/Total Expenses 90% 90% 91% Fundraising Expense/Contributed Revenue 0% 0% 0% Assets and Liabilities Fiscal Year Total Assets $459,913 $360,714 $255,044 Current Assets $382,453 $273,560 $196,253 Long-Term Liabilities $0 $0 $0 Current Liabilities $0 $0 $0 Total Net Assets $459,913 $360,714 $255,044 Top Funding Sources Fiscal Year Top Funding Source & Dollar Amount Contributions, gifts, grants $166,758 Contributions, gifts, grants $174,203 Program Service Revenue $100,079 Second Highest Funding Source & Dollar Research $88,411 Research $87,575 Contributions, gifts, Amount grants $97,398 Third Highest Funding Source & Dollar Amount Investment Income $534 Net Gain from Sale of Assets Other Than Inventory $4,508 0 $0 Comments Financial Comments by Organization Highly respected, internationally renowned long-term research and conservation programs are rare, due primarily to the level of commitment required to maintain them. The information and opportunities they provide are unique, and of crucial importance as we study animals whose lives can span more than 6 decades, and who are facing impacts that operate over years or decades. Continuity and consistency are paramount concerns for 20

21 ensuring that the data and resources from long-term programs are of the greatest value to science and society. Maintaining appropriate levels of field research effort and retention of experienced staff are key to long-term viability and success. The SDRP faces ongoing challenges. As a soft-money program, forced to sustain its operations through competitive research grants, contracts and philanthropy, we must find nearly $1,000,000 each year, at a time when government research support is retracting. While major grants and staff time are administered through the Chicago Zoological Society, we are tasked with finding funds to offset as many expenses as possible. For the current fiscal year, we anticipate needing to find $146,429 for operating expenses, beyond salaries and fringe benefits. Financial Comments by Foundation Financial information is provided based on IRS Form 990 EZs. Foundations and corporations are included with individual contributions as they are not separated in the

22 PLANS, POLICIES & LICENSES Plans Fundraising Plan Communication Plan Strategic Plan Management Succession Plan Continuity of Operations Plan Policies Organizational Policies and Procedures Written Conflict of Interest Policy ndiscrimination Policy Directors and Officers Insurance Policy Whistle Blower Policy Document Destruction Policy Government Licenses Is your organization licensed by the Government? Planning & Policies Comments Planning & Policies Comments by Organization Planning & Policies Comments by Foundation Created Copyright